Wigan relegated as Arsenal's march continues

Over and out ... Wigan's Roger Espinoza (L) and Emmerson Boyce (R) feel the weight of relegation.

Getty Images: Shaun Botterill

Wigan Athletic became the third and final team to be relegated from the Premier League with a 4-1 loss to Arsenal, just days after the elation of its FA Cup final win.

Roberto Martinez's side had arrived at the Emirates Stadium hopeful that its dramatic upset against Manchester City would prove the springboard for another great escape in the relegation battle.

It is really disappointing. I never expected this to happen. The group of players we have are an incredible bunch and we didn't deserve this.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez

But Arsenal desperately needed the points as well as it tries to qualify for the Champions League and the Gunners romped home thanks to a brace from Lukas Podolski and strikes from Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey.

Meanwhile, Wigan's defeated FA Cup final opponents Manchester City secured second place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over already-relegated Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Sergio Aguero's first-half strike put City ahead, but the dethroned champions had to wait until the 88th minute before Edin Dzeko showed a cool head to double his side's lead.

In London, Martinez named the same starting line-up that stunned City, but the Latics seemed sapped of energy and they surrendered the lead in careless fashion in the 11th minute.

'We didn't deserve this'

It's great to win the FA Cup. It's an achievement that will live forever. The relegation is something we can rectify.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez

Shaun Maloney gave Wigan hope with a free-kick equaliser, but the Latics, running on fumes after their Wembley heroics, will experience the unique anguish of becoming the first side to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.

"It is really disappointing," Martinez said. "I never expected this to happen. The group of players we have are an incredible bunch and we didn't deserve this.

"It's a tough day, but we have had incredible eight years in the Premier League.

"You look at the stats and they tell you we conceded far too many goals. Going forward we were magnificent but the number of injuries we've had in the back line is something I've never seen before."

Martinez, himself a former Wigan player, insisted the FA Cup had not been a distraction from the business of staying in the Premier League.

"The FA Cup gave us a bit of hope of finishing the season on a high. It gave us a different sense of confidence.

"It's great to win the FA Cup. It's an achievement that will live forever. The relegation is something we can rectify.

"The club is on a fantastic financial footing. We are stronger than ever. It's important we make our fans really proud. They supported us like they always do.

"It's a difficult time. It's a time to look forward to the future."

Arsenal purple patch

Arsenal woke up in the second half, pushing ahead when Walcott bravely got on the end of an excellent Cazorla cross to poke the Gunners into the lead, before Podolski had his second goal a few minutes later.

Cazorla headed a ball into the Wigan box, which saw Podolski calmly lob the keeper to put Arsenal 3-1 up.

Relegation was assured for Wigan when Cazorla played in Ramsey down the left and, with two team-mates in support, tucked the ball away himself to the relief of the Emirates Stadium crowd. It was Cazorla's fourth assist of the night.

It is sad they go down because they play good football with intelligent players.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

"We were a bit edgy after conceding, but when we scored the second it was a massive blow for Wigan," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

"They never recovered and we comfortably scored two more.

"It is sad they go down because they play good football with intelligent players.

"I'm happy we won the game, after 20 minutes we became too conservative and let Wigan back into the game.

"We had problems keeping the ball. But when they got tired after the Cup final, we got a good win as it was becoming difficult for them.

"We've got another big game on Sunday and we'll give it our all again."

While Wigan, four points behind Sunderland with one game left, will be back in the second tier for the first time since 2005, Wenger's team is on course to play in the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season.

Arsenal had fallen two points behind Tottenham after its north London rivals won at Stoke, but now heads to Newcastle on Sunday knowing another win will guarantee a top four finish.

The Gunners would not even need three points if Tottenham fails to beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane.